SimHQ.com - Air Combat Zone - Review: Falcon 4.0: Allied Force

As you see, you have a Missions section which contains saved missions which you either edit or fly, and down beneath, that little Mission Builder box. Let's go there. This brings us to the map, the blank canvas for your work of art. Although it's not really blank, because each theatre of operations, in this case the Balkans, is already populated with things like installations, such as air fields, war production, political, CCC and so on.

You choose which of these objects you want displayed with a right click on the mouse, bringing up the Map Options Menu. Be cautious about how much information you want displayed, it can get really crowded, especially if you decide to have the Names of each one listed.

Wow. That Political stuff really complicates a map, doesn't it?

Let's talk a little about the philosophy of building a mission. The first thing I would say is always remember you are in command here. Do not take things for granted, like assuming AWACS will always be there for you. It won't be if you didn't put it in your world. If you haven't done this in a while, or maybe ever, I would suggest you start simple, fly the mission and see if it works, then build upon it. Before you begin, think about what you want to do and where you want to do it. Flying a two hour one way flight is great if that's what you intended, but only then. Take some time to understand the terminology involved, the difference between a sortie and an engagement, package versus flight, and so on.

Timing is everything, or so the saying goes, and it certainly is true here. In all the map screens, take a look in the upper right hand corner. That's the mission clock and it dictates when everything will begin. So if you want to build an engagement that spans several days and you want your first flight in the air at 0500 on Day One, better have that clock set to 0500. The default is 0900, and that's fine for those who like to sleep in, like me.

If timing is everything, and it is, then planning is most things. It's very important you decide the goal you are trying to accomplish and the tools you are going to need to accomplish it. Never forget that this is all about war and that there are two sides. For every move you plan as one force, think about the response that the other side should have. Would it be a DCA (Defensive Counter Air), should they have AAA and SAM sites in the likely avenues of attack around that highly valued nuclear plant? How difficult do you want to make it for the player of the mission you create? Whether it be for yourself or someone who might like to try what you have accomplished, is the goal actually attainable? Or have you just created a torture session?

My last general rule is that you be very aware of what you do. It is so easy to start adding packages and flights and opposition counters, ground defenses, that you forget that one simple thing. Like selecting an Su-25 flight to fly intercept against an incoming F-16 OCA Strike package including F-15 escorts. Or maybe missing the fact that the altitude for those MiG-21 F Fishbeds is set for only 100 feet for their entire DCA patrol, so they fly around with their landing gear down trying to avoid small rolling hills. Stuff happens, and you can always correct it later, but the fewer the boo-boo's the better.

All right, throwing caution to the wind, we begin. I have decided that the area of my engagement will be in the upper left hand corner of the map, because that's where the land masses of the two opposing forces are closest. I'm not into flying two hours one way. For my primary airbase, I choose Ronchi dei legionari, because it's close and mostly because I love the way it sounds when the tower lady talks to me. Very sensual, that. What were we talking about? For the target today, I have decided to go to Marlboro Country, even though I don't smoke. I know, it's really Maribor, Maribor airbase we're after. But please forgive me if I use the other name, it just has that "cowboy" feel to it, and as chance would have it, we'll be flying as Cowboy11 and 12 later on. But I'm ahead of myself.

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